A “wrongful termination” is one in which an employer has discharged or laid off an employee in violation of a legal right of the employee. It is not enough for the employee to simply show that he/she was treated unfairly but the person must show that the firing was “wrongful” meaning one or more legal rights were violated. Almost every state has adopted the legal concept of “employment at will” which developed in England centuries ago and means that it is presumed that the employer has the right to terminate someone with or without a reason and likewise the employee has the right to quit at any time with or without a reason.  There are a number of exceptions to the employee at will doctrine (the exceptions vary depending upon where the person worked) and those exceptions generally fall into the broad categories listed below:

• Violations of Public Policy
  
• Breach of Contract
  
• Breach of Implied Contract  
• Breach of Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealings  
• Discrimination based on age, race, sex, disability, religion and/or national origin